--- title: "Cotadutide" canonical_url: https://bestpeptidecalculator.app/library/cotadutide description: "AstraZeneca GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist studied for NASH and type 2 diabetes. Clinical development has been mixed; not FDA-approved." updated: 2026-11-07 publisher: Peptide Library notice: "Research and educational use only. Not medical advice." --- # Cotadutide Cotadutide (also called MEDI0382 or GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist) is a glucagon agonist in the GLP-1 Agonist class. Cotadutide is a balanced dual agonist at the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, based on the oxyntomodulin scaffold — the endogenous gut hormone that naturally activates both. AstraZeneca GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist studied for NASH and type 2 diabetes. Clinical development has been mixed; not FDA-approved. Also known as: MEDI0382, GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist. Categories: Fat Loss, GLP-1/Metabolic. ## Classification - Type: Investigational dual incretin/glucagon agonist - Mechanism class: GLP-1 Agonist - Development stage: In clinical development - Regulatory class: Investigational, not FDA-approved ## Mechanism Cotadutide is a balanced dual agonist at the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, based on the oxyntomodulin scaffold — the endogenous gut hormone that naturally activates both. GLP-1 receptor activation supplies glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression and reduced appetite, while glucagon receptor activation increases hepatic energy expenditure, glycogenolysis and fatty-acid oxidation. The intended result is greater weight and hepatic fat reduction than GLP-1 agonism alone, with the incretin arm offsetting glucagon-driven glucose elevation. Its development has centred on liver endpoints, where the glucagon component acts directly on hepatocytes. Targets: GLP-1 receptor, Glucagon receptor. Origin: Synthetic oxyntomodulin-related dual agonist. ## Properties - Molecular formula: C167H252N42O55 - CAS number: 1686108-82-2 - Half-life: ~13 hours (sc) in human PK models - Studied routes: Subcutaneous ## Evidence - Evidence level: Clinical Trial Evidence - Highest documented: Controlled human trials - Human trials: 5 - Controlled human trials: 4 - Preclinical sources: 0 - Latest source: 2024 Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess. ### Studies 1. Effects of Cotadutide on Metabolic and Hepatic Parameters in Adults With Overweight or Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: A 54-Week Randomized Phase 2b Study. Diabetes Care. 2021. 2021. Controlled human trial. Population: Adults with BMI ≥25 and type 2 diabetes on metformin (n=834) [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34016612/) 2. Efficacy and safety of cotadutide, a dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, in a randomized phase 2a study of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022. 2022. Controlled human trial. Population: Adults with type 2 diabetes, BMI 25–45 and eGFR 30–59 (41 analysed). Lower glucose after a mixed meal and -3.41 kg body weight against -0.13 kg with placebo [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35403793/) 3. A randomized phase 2b trial examined the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonist cotadutide on kidney outcomes in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Kidney Int. 2024. 2024. Controlled human trial. Population: Adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (n=248) [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39218393/) 4. Safety and Efficacy of Novel Incretin Co-agonist Cotadutide in Biopsy-proven Noncirrhotic MASH With Fibrosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024. 2024. Controlled human trial. Population: Adults with biopsy-proven noncirrhotic MASH with fibrosis (n=74) [Source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38729399/) 5. NCT05517226 — Pharmacokinetics of Cotadutide in Participants With Hepatic Impairment. Human study (early or uncontrolled). Population: Participants with hepatic impairment (n=24). Terminated. The registry gives the reason as discontinuing the development of cotadutide based on strategic pipeline considerations, not a new safety signal [Source](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05517226) ### Registered trials - [NCT05517226](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05517226) ## Safety Side effects: GI adverse events; Increased heart rate (glucagon class). Risks: Not approved; WADA S0. Human safety basis: Clinical trial reports Key limitations: Not approved by the FDA for any use.. ## Regulatory status Cotadutide has been studied under an Investigational New Drug application. It is not approved for marketing. - FDA status: Investigational New Drug (IND) - WADA status: Banned in Sport - Availability: Research-Only ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Cotadutide? AstraZeneca GLP-1/glucagon receptor dual agonist studied for NASH and type 2 diabetes. Clinical development has been mixed; not FDA-approved. ### How does Cotadutide work? Cotadutide is a balanced dual agonist at the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, based on the oxyntomodulin scaffold — the endogenous gut hormone that naturally activates both. GLP-1 receptor activation supplies glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucagon suppression and reduced appetite, while glucagon receptor activation increases hepatic energy expenditure, glycogenolysis and fatty-acid oxidation. ### Is Cotadutide FDA approved? No. Cotadutide is investigational: it is in clinical development and has not been approved by the FDA for any indication. Investigational status means trials are ongoing or complete but regulatory review has not resulted in approval, and efficacy and safety are still being established. ### What is the half-life of Cotadutide? Reported half-life for Cotadutide is ~13 hours (sc) in human PK models. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied. ### Is Cotadutide banned in sport? Cotadutide is recorded here as prohibited in sport. Athletes subject to anti-doping rules should check the current WADA Prohibited List directly, since it is revised annually and classifications change. ### What peptides are similar to Cotadutide? Compounds most often compared with Cotadutide include Retatrutide, Survodutide, Pemvidutide and Mazdutide. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ. ## References - [A randomized phase 2b trial examined the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonist cotadutide on kidney outcomes in patients with diabetic kidney disease — Kidney Int, 2024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39218393/) - [Safety and Efficacy of Novel Incretin Co-agonist Cotadutide in Biopsy-proven Noncirrhotic MASH With Fibrosis — Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38729399/) - [Characterisation of cotadutide's dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonistic effects on glycaemic control using an in vivo human glucose regulation quantitative systems pharmacology model — Br J Pharmacol, 2024](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38403793/) - [Cotadutide promotes glycogenolysis in people with overweight or obesity diagnosed with type 2 diabetes — Nat Metab, 2023](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38066113/) - [Efficacy and safety of cotadutide, a dual glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, in a randomized phase 2a study of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease — Diabetes Obes Metab, 2022](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35403793/) Note: Dose figures are left out of this Markdown version. See the cited sources.